Most letters in this file are from Hildegard Goss-Mayr to Merton or Merton to Hildegard. Some of the letters are also co-signed by Jean Goss, but it seems that Hildegard was the author of the letters. There are original letters from Hildegard Goss-Mayr and carbon copies of Merton's letters.
Jean and Hildegard Goss-Mayr have long been advocates of non-violence and pillars of the peace movement. Hildegard was born in Vienna, and Jean was originally from France. They worked with Cardinal Ottaviani to craft documents of the Second Vatican Council in opposition to modern war. They shared with Merton an interest in Latin America and worked to bring non-violence change. In the 1980's, they promoted a peaceful end to the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines. Members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Hildegard was named honorary president of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR). Jean and Hildegard visited Merton at Gethsemani in 1965. (Source: The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 324-325.)
If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1962/01/08 |
TLS to Merton |
We are very grateful for the material on War and Peace that you have sent to us. All the packages |
|
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1962/01/no |
transcript from Merton |
Your very welcome letter has been received and I have been waiting for some time to get |
✓ |
[Cold War Letters #19 - copy from bound set]
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1962/10/02 |
TLS to Merton |
From John Heidbrink of the FOR we recently got the good news that you have joined the FOR. We are |
|
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1962/10/14 |
TLS[x] from Merton |
I am actually expecting John Heidbrink here today or tomorrow, and we will speak of you. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1962/10/31 |
TLS to Merton |
Thank you very much for your letter of October 14th, which we received on our arrival in Rome |
|
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1962/11/30 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thank you so much for having John Heidbrink pass on your letter to me. It had many good |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1962/12/05? |
HLS to Merton |
For over two weeks I have been wishing to write to you to tell you about the visit we have had with |
|
[no year noted - had been previously dated 1961, but context of the letter points more to 1962]
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1962/12/17 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
Under separate cover I am sending you three envelopes full of materials more or less related to |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1963/01/15 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your good letter of January 8th. I am glad you can make some use of the material. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1963/03/04 (#01) |
TLS to Merton |
A few days ago we received your excerpt from a letter about Sonoma, and the poems you translated |
|
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1963/03/04 (#02) |
TL[c] to Day, Dorothy |
We have read with great interest your articles on Cuba, and we are glad to notice how many contacts |
|
[letter of 1963/02/27 from Hildegard Goss-Mayr to Dorothy Day - carbon copy enclosed with 1963/03/04 letter to Merton]
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1963/03/04 (#03) |
other |
To the European and American IFOR Committee: To our proposals on Latin America (circulated |
|
[dated September 1962 - enclosed with 1963/03/04 letter to Merton]
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1963/03/21 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thank you for your good letter, which brings exciting news of your proposed plan for Brazil. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1963/10/28 |
TLS[x] from Merton |
Thanks for your warm and kind letter of August. Soon after getting it I went into the hospital |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1964/11/21 |
HLS to Merton |
Yesterday we received your letter of Nov. 11 with the good news about your book on non-violence |
|
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1964/12/02 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Dear friends, it was so good to hear from you. I pray much for your work in Brazil and am very |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1964/12/31 |
TALS to Merton |
Forgive that we have not answered much faster to your kind letter of December 2. Soon after I had |
|
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1965/01/19 |
HLS to Merton |
We are finally back in São Paulo, having spent some time in Salvador de Bahia on the way back |
|
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1965/10/25 |
HLS to Merton |
It has been a deep joy and privilege to be with you, a real "pilgrimage |
|
«detailed view» |
| 20. |
1965/11/10 |
TL[c] from Merton |
For the last week I have been wanting to answer your letter so as to reach you before you leave this |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 21. |
1965/11/29 |
TLS to Merton |
Just before I left the United States I received your kind letter of November 10 when you bring up |
|
«detailed view» |
| 22. |
1965/12/08 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Your letter arrived yesterday, and I want to say I will gladly try an article on "Demut" for you. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 23. |
1965/12/29 |
TLS to Merton |
Just a few lines to thank you very warmly for your present of "Seasons of Celebration" and |
|
«detailed view» |
| 24. |
1966/01/14 |
TL[c] from Merton |
It is the feast of St Hilary, Doctor of the Church who said: "The best way to solve the problem |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 25. |
1967/03/29 (#01) |
TALS to Merton |
You have not heard from us for a long time, Jean and I hope, that you are well and that your life |
|
«detailed view» |
| 26. |
1967/03/29 (#02) |
other |
Kapitelfolge [-] Vorwort [-] Prolog [-] 1. Kapitel: Ein Kontinent im Umbruch |
|
[table of contents for a proposed book by Goss-Mayr called The Strength of the Poor]
«detailed view» |
| 27. |
1967/04/22 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your nice letter of March 29th. I had been wondering what had happened to you. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 28. |
1983/07/26 |
TALS from Goss-Mayr, Hildegard / to William Shannon |
Thank you for your letter of July 18. I am glad that you are working on the writings of Thomas |
|
«detailed view» |
| 29. |
undated/no/no |
other |
STATUS QUO ET REVOLUTION [-] En juin dernier avait lieu en Europe un grand congrès |
|
[typed and annotated typescript]
«detailed view» |
| 30. |
undated/no/no |
other |
Hildegarde Goss-Mayr Letters to Merton [-] December, 1961 [-] For over two weeks I have been wishing |
|
[typescript of Goss-Mayr correspondence (both sides) with Merton]
«detailed view» |
| 31. |
undated/no/no |
other |
November 30, 1962 [-] My Dear Jean and Hildegard Goss-Mayr: Thank you so much for having |
|
[typescript of Merton's letters to Jean and Hildegard Goss-Mayr with a note to Hildegard stating gaps in the extant correspondence and the need for copies of certain letters - 1963/10/28 and 1962/10/14 were sent in response]
«detailed view» |
|